Step into the past: Discover old NH this weekend

Saturday, from 9-3, anyone interested in New Hampshire history or architecture will have an opportunity that has not presented itself for three decades. Many of the oldest homes in New Boston, some dating to 1740, will be open to the public. It is just one of the options for exploring New Hampshire's wonderful past that will be available this weekend.

New Boston has not had an open house tour in more than 30 years, Gail Parker, organizer of Saturday's event, says. If you know New Boston, you know what a rare treat this event will be. The town has some beautifully preserved homes from the 19th and 18th centuries. If you do not know New Boston, now is your chance to discover it.

On the Seacoast, Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth offers a special opportunity starting on Saturday. The museum, which preserves a city block of colonial-era Portsmouth, is open for free to New Hampshire residents from this Saturday, June 15, to next Sunday, June 23. Strawbery Banke preserves 42 buildings, the oldest dating to 1695.

In Exeter, the American Independence Museum officially reopened this month after a reorganization. Its colonial-era buildings and artifacts are open for tours Thursday through Saturday from 10-4. You can take a guided or self-guided tour through a colonial home and a tavern that was a hotbed of Revolutionary War activity.

New Hampshire's history is so rich, and it is literally sitting there, waiting to be discovered. This weekend would be a good time to start exploring it.

It's winter vacation season for some of us. It's time to grab the skis or snowboard and hit the slopes, or do some cross country skiing, snowshoe trekking, or tubing. We found some events to get you...